What Causes A Water Leak?

Water leaks often start small and are not always easy to detect. They can occur anywhere in your house and develop into a major problem before you notice a change in your water bill or household damage. If you notice even a slight trickle of water, call a leak detection company to avoid the need for expensive plumbing services, like a slab leak repair.

Understanding the importance of early leak detection and repairs is crucial to preventing severe plumbing and structural damage. Hi-Tech Plumbing & Leak Detect is experienced in leak detection services, and we want you to keep an eye out for the four most common causes of water leaks in your Edmond home.

Old Pipes

Pipes usually last around 20 years, depending on what they are made of. As the pipes age and home foundations shift, wear and tear can cause cracks, worn seals and broken or loose pipe joints. Growing tree roots can also press against pipes, causing stress and deterioration.

Any small cracks and crevices will slowly leak water over time. New wet spots or sinkholes in your yard and a sudden drop in water pressure can be a sign of damaged pipes. Worn seals and water connectors can cause condensation on and puddles near appliances. Loose pipe joints will make a banging or clicking noise when using water.

Asking questions is a great way to prevent old pipes from leaking and damaging your property. Figure out when the plumbing system was installed, if it has been updated and how long since any nearby trees were planted. Scheduling a plumber evaluation each year will help you avoid future leaks and reveal if you may need repairs done soon.

Rust or Corrosion

As plumbing systems age, corrosion is inevitable. Rust, minerals and harsh chemicals will eat away at pipes and form pinholes in the metal. This results in small leaks until larger sections of pipe are completely gone, eventually leading to a collapse.

Insulating metal pipes and installing water treatment systems can improve your pipes’ strength. PH test strips can help you track your water’s acidity, which is the main contributor to corrosion. Balancing your water’s pH level can maintain the durability of your pipes, but corrosion will happen eventually.

If your plumbing system is older and at a high risk of corroding, consider replacing the pipes with a newer type. Call a plumber right away when there is visible rust, discoloration or warping on pipes.

High Water Pressure

Pipes are designed to withstand water pressure of 60 psi, no higher than 80 psi. Although high water pressure feels great, excessive pressure can prematurely age your plumbing system by weakening and severely damaging pipes. The strain will cause cracks, pinholes and leaks.

Installing a hose bibb gauge and a pressure-reducing valve will help you watch your water pressure and reduce it when it becomes too high. If you are concerned about whether your home has the normal range of water pressure, call one of our plumbers today for help regulating it.

Hard Water

Our water in Edmonton, OK is around 146 ppm, which is considered hard. Hard water contains a lot of minerals and results in limescale deposits in your pipes, which can also be seen on shower tile, bathroom products and around water fixtures. Those mineral deposits build up over time and damage your pipes by creating pinhole leaks or clogs which can also raise your water pressure.

Getting your pipes cleaned regularly and installing a whole-home water softener are great ways to prevent hard water damage and leaks in your pipes. This will remove any mineral residue and improve the quality of water running through the pipes, preventing future buildup.

Leak Detection and Prevention

When you notice one of the above signs of a water leak in your home, call our professional plumbers at Hi-Tech Plumbing & Leak Detect as soon as possible! Serving Edmond and the surrounding areas with the most reliable plumbing repairs for over 20 years, we will stop the leak and repair your pipes right away.

Be the master of your home plumbing system and contact us today to learn about our static leak isolation testing, slab leak repairs and more!